Giving Locals and Visitors The Ultimate Chicago Experience

As the name suggests, River North lies just one mile away from the historic Chicago River. With its geographical location, the lively River North community provides plentiful opportunities for both locals and visitors, living up to our community brand campaign, “Playground for Grown-ups.” Similar to fellow Universal Admedia community, South Cove NYC, River North CHGO is a thriving community living just off the river’s edge that allows its residents rich opportunities to excel in their careers and have fun while doing so. However, what makes River North stand out from South Cove and the other UA communities is the various offerings it has to bring for its residents and beyond. Allowing its residents to engage with restaurants, bars, and more, River North strives to provide a neighborhood for hard-working individuals ready to get the job done and have time to relax and have fun afterward. Embodying this brand of “Playground for Grown-ups'' and utilizing its proximity to the Chicago River, one of the unique opportunities that River North presents for its residents to enjoy is the coveted architecture tours provided by Wendella.

Blending together the rich history of Chicago’s architecture with views, friends, and fun, Wendella has become a beloved part of the River North community with its cruises, tours, and more. Coined as Chicago’s original architecture tour, Wendella is dedicated to giving locals and tourists the ultimate Chicago experience, whether it’s their first time in the city or they frequent the River North area every weekend. Providing its guests the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful views of the Chicago River and even the iconic Lake Michigan, Wendella is focused on providing a one-of-a-kind experience for all its guests.

Located at 400 N Michigan Ave, Wendella offers its guests three narrated tours of Chicago as they explore and learn more about the Windy City’s rich architectural history and six cruises for those looking to enjoy the city’s stunning views. For tours, guests can choose from the original 90-minute Lake & River Architecture Tour that started it all, where they can experience the architecture of Chicago from both perspectives of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The company also offers two other tours focused on Chicago’s architecture solely from the Chicago River, which can take 45 or 90 minutes.

Along with their beloved tours, Wendella also offers six cruises for those interested to choose from as they spend the night enjoying the stunning riverfront skyline views of the city. For those looking to socialize with friends, family, and colleagues, the cruises are a perfect way to enjoy riverfront skyline views. The cruises available include the Chicago Sunset Cruise, Chicago Fireworks Cruise, Private: 4th of July Fireworks Cruise, Wine & Cheese Cruise, Holiday Fireworks Cruise, and Beer & BBQ Cruise. Each cruise offers guests a unique experience to enjoy the holiday or event to its fullest potential. Wendella also serves as the official boat tour for the city’s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. 

Founded in 1935 by Swedish immigrant, Bo Albert Borgstrom, Wendella has been giving locals and visitors tours of Chicago since its creation. Wendella began its journey at the beloved Navy Pier in 1935 with its first ship, Wendela, which was later changed to Wendella for pronunciation purposes. The ship was just 65 feet long and held 96 passengers selling their tickets for a mere 25 cents. Three years later, the organization moved to the Wrigley Building, where it stands and operates today. 27 years later in 1962, Wendella created their Wendella Commuter Cruise service, now known as the Chicago Water Taxi, to take commuters over the river from the Chicago & Northwestern Train Station and Michigan Avenue during both the morning and evening rush. The Water Taxi still runs to this day and allows residents to beat the traffic and enjoy their morning and evening commute with a view. Through the years, Wendella at its center has been focused on the people they interact with and service, ensuring that their experience in Chicago will be unforgettable.

Now, 80 years later, Wendella continues to be a prominent landmark in the River North community. The company guarantees to provide the “best seat in the house” for its guests to experience Chicago, its iconic river, and all of the beautiful views it has to offer. To learn more about Wendella and how to buy tickets for cruises and tours, you can visit their website here.